Gameweek 11 of the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2) delivered late drama, defensive errors, and a growing sense of separation at both ends of the table.
Charlton Athletic maintained their grip on top spot with a last-gasp winner over Nottingham Forest, extending their unbeaten run in the process. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace edged a five-goal thriller at Bristol City to make it three wins on the bounce and close the gap on the play-off places.
Elsewhere, Birmingham City blew Durham away with three goals in four minutes across half-time during a dominant home display. Southampton got back on track with a controlled performance away at Sheffield United.
Newcastle United made it seven unbeaten with a hard-fought win at Portsmouth, sealed by a bizarre own goal and a late red card. Sunderland, came from behind to beat bottom side Ipswich Town, ending a four-match losing streak and putting daylight between themselves and the drop zone.
With just three points separating 3rd and 6th, the promotion race remains wide open.
VERTA’s WSL2 GW11 Picks
⚽️ Goal of the week: Veatriki Sarri – A beautifully curled free-kick from distance to open the scoring. Lovely stuff. (Birmingham City 3-0 Durham)
🚀 Game of the week: Charlton 2-1 Nottingham Forest – Late comeback, red card drama, end-to-end football. This one had it all.
⭐️ Star of the week: Emma Bissell – An assist and a 98th-minute winner in just a 22-minute cameo. Pure impact sub. (Charlton 2-1 Nottingham Forest)
Wed 17th Dec 25 | Ashton Gate
Crystal Palace edged a dramatic five-goal thriller at Bristol City to continue their resurgence and stay within touching distance of the play-off places.
Elise Hughes opened the scoring for the visitors on 24 minutes, nodding in Ashleigh Weerden’s pinpoint cross at the far post – her first WSL2 goal of the season.
However, City responded just before the break through Rio Hardy’s penalty, awarded after Kirsty Howat was adjudged to have handled in the box.
Early in the second half, Palace regained the lead, Howat’s deflected strike looping over Bentley to make it 2–1. Nevertheless, Bristol hit back swiftly. Emily Syme volleyed home expertly from Mari Ward’s delivery to level the tie again.
The winner came in the 74th minute, when a miscued clearance fell kindly to Abbie Larkin. The Palace forward made no mistake, finishing superbly from the edge of the area.
That’s now three wins on the bounce for the Eagles, who climb to 5th – just three points off Bristol City in third.
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Sun 21st Dec 25 | Bramall Lane
Southampton recorded a vital 2–0 away win at Sheffield United to end a run of four games without a victory.
Jessica Simpson gave the Saints the lead in the 20th minute, heading home after a rebound in the box from a Southampton corner.
In response, the Blades pushed forward and enjoyed spells of pressure. However, they were largely contained by a disciplined Saints defence. Goalkeeper Frances Stenson made several key stops to preserve the lead.
Amy Goddard made it 2–0 just after the hour mark, reacting quickest to a parried effort from Mary Bashford and slotting in from close range. From that point on, the visitors managed the game confidently to seal all three points.
That’s now back-to-back defeats for Sheffield United following an unbeaten run of five. They drop to 9th, while Southampton climb to 7th – edging back within sight of the top half.
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Sun 21st Dec 25 | St Andrew’s
Birmingham City produced a dominant display to see off Durham with three goals in four minutes either side of half-time.
It was all Birmingham from the start, and the breakthrough came on the stroke of half-time. Veatriki Sarri curled home a superb free-kick from 20 yards – her fifth goal of the campaign.
Just two minutes into the second half, Chelsea Cornet made it 2–0, heading in Ocean Hurtre’s long-range curling free-kick. Moments later, it was three. Lily Crosthwaite’s deflected strike against her former club put the result beyond doubt.
The Blues continued to push forward in search of more, but were unable to add to their tally. In truth, the scoreline flattered Durham, who struggled to cope throughout.
The win keeps Birmingham firmly in the promotion picture. For Durham, the slide continues – that’s now five games without a win and just two victories all season.
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Sun 21st Dec 25 | The Valley
Charlton Athletic came from behind to snatch all three points in stoppage time, extending their unbeaten run in dramatic fashion against Nottingham Forest.
After an evenly matched first half with chances at both ends, it was the visitors who struck first. Aimee Claypole (48′) found space in the box, latching onto Bhantell Boye-Horkah’s header before slotting past the keeper to give Forest the lead.
Charlton responded positively and gradually took control. The equaliser came in the 76th minute when Karin Muya’s miscued first effort fell kindly, and she made no mistake with the second – calmly finishing to level the match.
The turning point came late on. In the 84th minute, Georgia Brougham was shown a second yellow for a rash challenge on Muya deep in Charlton’s half – a needless foul that left Forest down to ten.
With the pressure mounting, Charlton found the winner in the 98th minute. Emma Bissell punished a poor touch from Rose, lashing home to seal the comeback.
Charlton maintain their five-point lead at the top, while Forest remain 6th – just three points off the playoff places.
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Sun 21st Dec 25 | Westleigh Park
Newcastle United claimed a valuable away win at Portsmouth, edging a tight contest thanks to a late stroke of fortune to take all three points.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Jordan Nobbs arrived at the far post to smash home, after Stokes’ cross evaded everyone in the box.
Both sides had chances throughout, but wasteful finishing kept the score 0-1.
Portsmouth drew level in the 63rd minute, capitalising on a shocking backpass by Oon Sevenius. Completely unpressured, her misplaced ball set Jessie Gale through on goal, and she calmly rounded the keeper to make it 1–1.
Pompey had two strong penalty appeals waved away before the decisive moment arrived. In the 80th minute, captain Jasmine Ball looped a miscued clearance over her own goalkeeper from the edge of the box – a bizarre own goal that would’ve been a contender for goal of the weekend at the other end.
Hope of a late comeback was ended when Collins was shown a second yellow in the 84th minute.
Newcastle’s third win on the bounce sit 4th, level on points with Bristol City. Portsmouth remain 11th, winless in three.
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Sun 21st Dec 25 | Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
Sunderland staged a dramatic comeback to snatch all three points against bottom-placed Ipswich Town, ending a four-match losing streak in the process.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half. A well-worked move from a lively Ipswich side was finished at close range by Rianna Dean – her fourth league goal of the season.
Ipswich continued to look dangerous in the first half but couldn’t find a second. After the break, Sunderland came out with renewed purpose and dominated for large spells.
The pressure finally told in later stages. Jessica Brown levelled in the 75th minute, bundling home after a chaotic goal-line scramble.
Just two minutes later, the turnaround was complete. Substitute Isibeal Atkinson fired in a well-placed low drive across the keeper to make it 2–1.
Ipswich had a golden chance to equalise late on, but Peskett couldn’t convert when clean through.
The result gives Sunderland vital breathing space between the bottom of the table, while Ipswich remain in last place – their fate increasingly looking sealed.
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